Pride at the Pier is on this weekend. Here's what to expect

Hamilton's Pride weekend starts this Friday in what organizers say is one of the event's biggest iterations in recent years.

"I don't recall Pride Hamilton ever having such extensive programming. So, I'm excited to see it come to fruition and be successful," said chair of the Pride Hamilton board and director of events Kiel Hughes.

Pride events will span the entire weekend, with Pride at the Pier at Pier 4 Park on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, Pride Hamilton is, for the first time, closing the weekend with Pride Drag Brunch at Hamilton Stadium.

Hughes, who will also be one of the hosts on Saturday as Sasha Fienix, said reclamation, unity and healing are the overarching themes of this year's festivities.

"My example is we're having a drag brunch in a football stadium in a place that historically has pushed queer and trans folks out," Hughes said.

"So, we are taking over and taking up space."

The brunch starts at 11:30 a.m., and tickets are on sale on Pride Hamilton's website.

Supporting Canadian talent

Pride at the Pier starts on Friday at 5 p.m., and will have several performances by musicians and drag artists, including artist Kamilla Flores Kameleon, who will be hosting, marching band Gayly Forward, musician Jesse James, London, Ont., drag artist Poison, and more.

Saturday festivities start at 11 a.m. at Pier 4. 

Pride Hamilton is hosting a meet and greet with several "iconic" drag performers: Suki Doll, Scarlett Bobo, Jaylene Tyme and The Virgo Queen. The queens will also be performing on Saturday. Tickets for the meet and greet are $35.

Other artists on Saturday include musicians Dynesti, Tony Will and Just Amsterdam as well as  drag artists Tynomi Banks from Canada's Drag Race's first season, Margaux Rita, and co-hosts Karma Kameleon and Sasha Fienix.

All artists and performers are Canadian, as Hughes wanted to make sure Pride Hamilton was supporting local talent.

Vice-chair and director of operations at Pride Hamilton, Allyson Cuddy, said there will be plenty of events for the whole family.

Cuddy said there will be a kids and youth area with much going on. From arts and crafts with the Dundas Valley School of Art, and story time with the Hamilton Wentworth Elementary Teachers Local to a performance by the Hamilton Children's Choir.

Hughes said Pride Hamilton is trying to make its event "more wholesome and inclusive" to the diverse communities in Hamilton.

"A city of this size should have a respectable pride to represent that," said Hughes.

The weekend-long event will also have more than 80 vendors, "from corporations to local non-profits," said Cuddy.

Hughes hopes people will walk away from the event with "the understanding that pride is every day that we exist … Take up space, unite with community, heal."

"Pride Hamilton is here to stay, regardless of what's going on — the greater world climate, local policies, anything," added Cuddy.